Valved nursing bottle



NOV. 14, 1950 5, BROWN 2,529,794

VALVED NURSING BOTTLE Filed June 2, 1947 Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE 2.529.794 I w VALVED'NURSING BOTTLE Abner-E. BrownQRichmond.Heights,Mo.

. Application JuneZ, 1947, Serial No. 751,746

.15 Claims.

The present invention relates to .a valved nursing bottle. In particular, it relates'to a-nursing bottle having an air port in the lower end thereof, and a valve for controlling the air port so that the same may be opened or closed at will.

It is an object of the invention to provide a nursing bottle of this kind that has a valve means that is entirely sanitary. A further object is to provide a nursing bottle of this kind having a valve means that may be operated by a very simple actuation, so that it may be opened or closed quickly at any time. A particular object is to provide a valve means of this kind that may be opened or closed by the thumb of the hand that is holding the bottle, so that the use of the bottle and the valve will be one-handed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve of this kind having completely:detachable parts, so that they all may be cleaned. In this connection, anespecial object is to provide a valve means having its operating parts completely removable from the bottle, and associated holding means on the bottle that is open and accessible for cleaning.

Other objects will appear in thedescription to follow.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a nursing bottle, showing the valve in place;

Fig. 2 is a view of the bottom of the bottle in its preferred form, with the removable valve parts withdrawn;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the removable valve actuating means in its preferred form;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the valve and bott e, taken on the line i 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the valve open;

Fig. 6 a sectionon theline 6--% of Fig. 4-;

Fig. '7 is a view of a preferred .form .ofthe valve washer;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a modified form.

of valve actuating means;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9--9 of Fig. .8;

the understanding of the full description that the valve may be inserted into an extension formed by enlarging the outside dimensions of the bottom of the bottle, without changing the internal opening thereof, or by merely providing a boss on one side of the internal wall of the bottle near its bottom, and that other like arrangements may be used.

The bottom of the bottle is thereby provided with a relatively thick section [4 on at least one side. This section is provided with an undercut recess 15 that extends transversely to the bottle. and terminates in a wall 16 that is preferably slightly beyond the middle of the bottle, when viewed as in Figs. 1 and 2. It is most desirable tomake the wall i6 generally perpendicular to the bottom of the recess 15, as appears clearly in Fig. 4, although it will be understood that these shapes may be varied within the limits of the operating mechanism.

The bottle at the inner part of the recess I5 isprovided with an air port ll that extends from the interior of the lower well [3 of the bottle through 'to the recess l5.

This port ll is valved by a removable mechanism. This includes, first, a resilient washer l8 that may be made of rubber or the like, and which preferably is square or suitably corresponded to the shape of the recess, so that when it is inserted it will engage with the walls of the recess and be held against accidental removal or displacement. Preferably, also, it is rounded off 1 on its outer edge so that the valve operating mechanism may be inserted over it easily. It has through it a port 253 that. when the shaped washer is inserted into the inner end of the recess and against the wall ltgwill be in registry with-the port ll of the bottle.

Secondly, a valve actuating means (Fig. 3)

which includes an insert portion 23 that is shaped on its sides and bottom to correspond with the shape of the sides and bottom of the recess l5. In other words, in preferred form, it is tapered so as to slide into the recess from the shallow end thereof and to be held there against outward removal by the undercut shaping of the walls of the recess l5. This valve actuating means is cut away on its inner surface to receive the washer, and to engage the side thereof opposite the wall l 6 so as to hold it in place. EXtending across this cut-away space and mounted in the insert, in a manner such as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, there is a spring-like closing blade 25 which acts as a 'valving member. This is actuated by an over-center bell crank type of handle that'may be 'pivotally held in a cut-away portion 21 in the outer surface of the valve actuating means, and projecting slightly therefrom. It will be seen that the operation of the handle of this member 26 to the position of Fig. 4 causes the spring-like blade 25 to compress the Washer 18 over the port [1, and to close the opening 20 in the washer, and to cause the washer to seal tightly against the bottom of the recess around the port l1. However, when the handle 26 is flipped up, as shown in Fig. 5, the ports 20 and I! are opened for ingress of air into the bottom.

A modified type of valve actuating means is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. This type may be made of sheet metal, or like material, and consists of a generally U-shaped actuating bracket 30 that has walls 3| that extend outwardly from a base portion 32 and converge, so as to cooperate with the undercut walls of the recess I5. There is an integral blade 33 that projects across the member 38 and over a cut-away portion 34 thereof. An actuating handle 35 is pivoted at 36 between the wall members 3|, and it has a cam portion 31. The operation of this type actuating member is the same as that in the original type described.

Fig. 10 shows another modification, in which the recess 55 may be the same as before, as are the washer and ports. The valve insert may be formed of a metal stamping similar to that of Fig. 8, but with the side walls cut away. The base 4| of this stamping has the end in engagement with the washer and a spring blade 42 is turned back to overlie the port 20 and normally spring outward therefrom. In this modification, the operating handle 43 is separately pivoted to the sides of the recess 15. The sides of the recess 15 have opposite grooves 45, of which one is shown in Fig. 10. The pivot ends of the handle 43 are slid into the outer ends of these grooves 45, and back to the more or less radial inner ends thereof, in which they are retained by the spring 42 acting outwardly on the crank part of the handle lever 43. By this means, the handle may be inserted and removed individually.

Operation The bottle is initially sterilized, and the valve parts may be removed at this time and sterilized separately. When they are removed, it will be seen that they consist of the valve actuating means, or its counterparts in Figs. 8 and 10, and the washer IS. The bottle is designed so that it can be cleaned readily, as is evident, because the valve receiving recess I is open and large enough so that complete cleaning of its and of the port i7 is easily accomplished.

When the bottle is so sterilized, the washer I8 is slipped into place, which may be done readily as the recess is large enough to receive sterilized mechanical holding means, and the washer will be properly located by virtue of its shape. Then the actuating means is slid into the recess 15 from the left end in Figs. 1 and 2. Preferably, in this position, it engages the free edge of the washer and holds it in place. This also disposes the blade 25 over the port 20 when the handle is in the position of Figs. 3 and 5. The actuating means has sufiicient spring or friction to prevent accidental removal from the recess IS. The handle may be flipped down, to the position shown in Fig. 4, compressing the blade over the port 20 and closing the opening. Then the bottle may be filled with the formula.

When the bottle is used for feeding an infant,

the person feeding the infant will hold the bottle with its lower end above the nipple end. As the infant Withdraws milk from the bottle, there is a low pressure condition developed in the bottle that retards the outflow of milk. This may cause excessive labor on the part of the infant, and consequent failure of the child to get enough food. This characteristic is peculiar to mechanical feeding means, and thus imposes upon the bottle-fed infant a labor that is not required of a breast-fed infant.

With the present invention, the person feeding the child can hold the bottle in the hand in proper position for the infant to withdraw the milk therefrom. The person, while so holding the bottle, may with the thumb flip the handle 26 upwardly to open the valve, and thereby admit air through the ports 20 and I! of the washer and bottle, respectively, so as to vary the low pressure that resists the withdrawal of the milk by the infant.

Furthermore, if, because of some sudden necessity, the person is required to withdraw the bottle from the infant and set it down, the valve may be closed with no delay whatever by merely flipping the handle 26 back into closed position by the thumb of the hand holding the bottle. The bottle may then be set up on its bottom without leaking. It may be seen that a very sanitary and very simply and quickly operatable valve means has been provided. Modifications in it are evidently possible within the scope of the disclosed invention. The mechanism of Fig. 8, which preferably is made of metal, has certain advantages of simplicity of construction, although the operation is the same.

What is claimed is:

1. In a nursing bottle, a port through the lower part of the bottle, a recess integral with the bottle adjacent the port, said recess having a shape to receive a valve mechanism, and having opposite side walls, and grooves oppositely arranged in the side walls for receiving a pivot for a valve actuating means.

2. In a nursing bottle, a port through the lower part of the bottle, a recess integral with the bottle adjacent the port, said recess having overhanging walls for the sliding insertion of a valve mechanism, said overhanging walls extending to opposite sides of the port and converging outwardly from it so as to hold a valve mechanism in said recess against valve operating forces.

3. In a nursing bottle, a port adjacent the bottom thereof, a valve mechanism for controlling flow through said port including valve actuating means, said valve actuating means including an operating member engageable and operatable by a digit of a hand holding the bottle, said operating member being pivotally supported upon the bottle on a pivot fixed relative to the valve mechanism and having an end engageable by the digit for the pivoting operation, and means associated with the operating member for causing opening of the valve when the operating member is pivoted to one position and closing of the valve when it is pivoted to another position, said operating member remaining in either position until manually moved to the other position.

4. A nursing bottle, including an opening through a lower wall thereof, a recess in the outer surface of the bottle adjacent the opening, the recess extending transversely to a radius of the bottle passing through the opening, from a point laterally of the opening to a point beyond the opening, and having overhanging, spaced,

side walls for engagement with an insertable valve mechanism and an end wall beyond the opening.

5. A nursing bottle having a port through the wall thereof at the bottom part of the bottle, a valve mechanism, a valve mechanism holding means formed in the bottle, the valve mechanism having a base shaped for removable engagement with the holding means, a flexible, ported washer outside the port, a valving member engageable over the washer and movably supported on the base, and means on the base for moving the valving member against the washer to compress the same and close its port and that through the bottle.

6. A nursing bottle having a port through the wall thereof at the bottom part of the bottle, a valve mechanism, a valve mechanism holding means formed in the bottle, the valve mechanism having a base shaped for removable engagement with the holding means, a flexible, ported washer outside the port, a valving member engageable over the washer and movably supported on the base, and means on the base for moving the valving member against the washer to compress the same and close its port and that through the bottle, said moving means including a finger operatable bell crank lever pivoted to the base, and engageable against the valving member.

7. A nursing bottle having an opening through the wall adjacent the bottom of the bottle, a recess formed in the bottle adjacent the opening having spaced inwardly diverging side walls, a.

valve mechanism in the recess having a portion shaped for sliding removable engagement with said recess, and a flexible ported washer outside the opening.

8. A nursing bottle having an opening through the Wall adjacent the bottom of the bottle, a recess formed in the bottle adjacent the opening having spaced inwardly diverging side walls, and a valve mechanism in the recess having a portion shaped for sliding removable engagement with the recess, said valve mechanism containing a pivotally mounted operating member for causing opening of the valve when said operating member is pivoted to one position and closing of the valve when it is pivoted to another position.

9. A nursing bottle having an opening through a lower wall, and an elongated recess in the outer surface of the bottle adjacent the opening having spaced inwardly diverging side walls and an end wall for engagement with an insertable valve mechanism, said recess beginning adjacent one side of said opening and extending to a point beyond the other side thereof.

10. In combination, a nursing bottle containing a port through a wall thereof; a recess formed integral with the bottle wall around said port and having opposed inwardly diverging walls; a sealing member disposed in the recess adjacent the port; and a valve mechanism slidably and removably disposed in said recess, said valve mechanism comprising a base portion shaped to fit the recess, a valving member supported on the base portion adjacent the sealing member and biased away from said port, and an operating member pivotally mounted on the base portion and movable between a position to force the valving member toward the port so as to close the same and a position to permit the valving member to move away from the port so as to open it.

11. A valve mechanism for use with a nursing bottle, comprising a body portion having a bottom wall and a pair of opposed side walls; a spring-like blade portion extending from adjacent one end of the bottom wall inwardly between the side Walls; and an operating member pivotally mounted on the side walls and movable to a position to force the blade portion toward the bottom wall.

12. A valve mechanism for use with a nursin bottle, comprising a sheet metal body portion having a bottom Wall and a pair of opposed side walls, the side walls converging inwardly away from the bottom wall; a spring-like blade portion formed integral with one end of the bottom wall and extending inwardly between the side walls; and an operating member pivotally mounted on the side walls and movable to a position to force the blade portion toward the bottom wall.

13. In combination, a nursing bottle containinp a port through a wall thereof; a recess formed integral with the bottle wall around said port and having opposed inwardly diverging walls; a sealing member disposed in the recess adjacent the port; and a Valve mechanism slidably and removably disposed in said recess, said valve mechanism comprising a bod portion having a bottom Wall and a pair of opposed side walls; a spring-like blade portion extending from adjacent one end of the bottom wall inwardly between the side walls; and an operating member pivotally mounted on the side walls and movable to a position to force the blade portion against the sealing member so as to close said port.

14. In combination, a nursing bottle containing a port through a wall thereof; a recess formed integral with the bottle wall around said port and having opposed inwardly diverging walls; a sealing member disposed in the recess adjacent the port; and a valve mechanism slidably and removably disposed in said recess, said valve mechanism comprising a sheet metal body portion having a bottom wall and a pair of opposed side walls, the ide walls converging inwardly away from the bottom wall; a spring-like blade portion formed integral with one end of the bottom wall and extending inwardly between the side walls; and an operating member pivotally mounted on the side walls and movable to a position to force the blade portion against the sealing member so as to close said port.

15. In combination, a nursing bottle containing a port through a wall thereof; a recess formed integral with the bottle wall adjacent the port and having opposed side walls; said side walls containing grooves therein; a sealing member disposed in the recess adjacent the port; an elongated U-shaped member disposed in the recess, one leg of said member being adjacent the wall of the bottle and the other leg being spaced therefrom and extending over the sealing member; and an operating member pivotally mounted in the grooves and movable to a position to force said other leg member against the sealing member so as to close the port.

ABNER E. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,097,180 Maynard May 19, 1914 1,732,126 Gardner Oct. 15, 1929 1,976,450 Lowe et al Oct. 9, 1934 2,022,083 Geistlinger Nov. 26, 1935 2,066,445 Allen Jan. 5, 1937 2,342,722 Boxley Feb. 29, 1944 

